Mets fans have been hearing “this is the year,” well, for years now. And on Wednesday morning, just hours after New York got no-hit by a rookie, Kevin Kernan of the New York Post told WFAN co-hosts Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton that Mets front-office executives are looking at next season as the one where everything will come together.

Kevin Kernan

That’s not to discount the potential of this season, Kernan pointed out. The Mets, amazingly, are still in sole possession of first place, and they are committed to winning now.

But the feeling among club officials is that the team will have a better chance to return to the playoffs — and win in October — in 2016.

“I have sources,” Kernan told Boomer & Carton. “I’ve talked to people in the Mets’ front office, and they’ve always pointed towards 2016 … One of the reasons why is they feel that the pitching staff will be totally in place then. You’ll have a Steven Matz up, he’ll be up. You’ll have a (Noah) Syndergaard, kind of with some experience.

“I think that’s been their gut feeling, that 2016 is the year. They’re not gonna throw away 2015, hopefully, but 2016’s been kind of like their target all along. 2016’s been, kind of like, the year they felt they could really … their coming-out party.”

Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson speak during batting practice ahead of a game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on April 21, 2015. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Matz, a 24-year-old lefty from Long Island, is expected to be called up by the All-Star break. He’ll join a formidable rotation that includes ace Matt Harvey, reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, ageless veteran Bartolo Colon and Syndergaard.